Collection: St. Bernadette of Lourdes

ARTIST: Dan Paulos

ARTWORK NARRATIVE:

Dear Saint Bernadette, Chosen by Almighty God as a channel of His Graces and Blessings, and through your humble obedience to the requests of Our Blessed Mother, Mary, you gained for us the Miraculous waters of Spiritual and physical healing.

We implore you to listen to our pleading prayers that we may be healed of our Spiritual and physical imperfections.

Place our petitions in the Hands of our Holy Mother, Mary, so that She may place them at the feet of Her beloved Son, Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, that He may look on us with mercy and compassion:(Make Petition)

Her feast day is April 16.

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Bernadette was the oldest of 6 children in a very poor family headed by Francois and Louise Casterot. She was hired out as a servant from age 12 to 14. She was a shepherdess. On 11 February 1858, around the time of her first Communion, she received a vision of the Virgin. She received 18 more in the next 5 months, and was led to a spring of healing waters. She moved into a house with the sisters of Nevers at Lourdes where she lived, worked, and learned to read and write. The sisters cared to the sick and indigent, and at age 22 they admitted Bernadette into their order since she was both. Always sick, and often mistreated by her superiors, she died with a prayer for Mary's aid. Bernedette's body is incorruptible.

Since the appearances of Mary to young Bernadette in 1858, more than 200 million people have visited the shrine of Lourdes.

Born:   January 7, 1844 at Lourdes, France  

Died:   April 16, 1879, Nevers, France  

Canonized:   1933 by Pope Pius XI  

Name Means:   Brave as a bear  

Also known as:   Maria Bernadette; Marie Bernarde; Sleeping Saint of Nevers; Bernardette; Bernardetta; Bernada; Bernardette Soubirous